work experience ~ s.w

four

"No way" I giggle. As if I've just met my mentor for the week. I certainly didn't think he'd be so cute.

"I'll admit, when your teacher approached me telling me he had a girl lined up I was apprehensive. My industry is pretty male dominated but seeing how you handled yourself with Skate today I'd say you'll fit in just fine"

"Well I'm glad to hear it" I smile.

"So anyway, Nexus is about a 15 minute drive from here" Sam tells me.

"How long to walk?"

"God, like 2 hours?" He says, not completely confident in his answer.

"That's okay so if I leave at like 6:30-7 I can make it there for 9"

"Am? Are you mad?" He laughs. "Look it's fine, I'll come pick you up."

"You have to stop chauffeuring me around Sam" I laugh.

"You're my musical prodigy. I can't have you walking around going God knows where with nothing but a tiny little phone map."

"Then it's fine because you won't be doing that" I laugh. "Because I don't have a phone."

"Wow, I've never met a girl without a phone anymore."

"Call me old fashioned but it's not like I actually need one. I'm perfectly fine with a landline."

"What the hell is a landline?"

"You really are clueless" I laugh. "It's something they had in the olden days. A phone that's attached to the wall."

"But how do you remember people's numbers?"

"Got them all stored up here" I say aping the side of my head.

"You really do amaze me" He smiles making me smile back. There's a long pause between us as I search for something to say.

"Anyway, I should get going" I say looking at the clock, yawning at the sight of the 00:00 on the dashboard. "Thank you very much for the ride. I'll see you on Monday."

"I'm coming to pick you up so don't you dare leave"

"Fine" I groan. "But don't beep the horn. My dad doesn't like being woken up."

"Got it. 9am. No horn" He nods.

"Thank you Sam" I smile sweetly as I jump out the car. I wake Zach up momentarily to get him out of the car. I grab our things and head to the front door. I open it as quietly as possible to see that Sam is still waiting at the roadside. I smile to myself as I let the two of us in, watching Sam's car disappear in the window beside me one the door is firmly shut. I tiptoe past a very drunk very light sleeper as I carry Zach up the stair to his bedroom. Dad's sold pretty much everything we own to spend on alcohol and his latest addiction, gambling, so our house is pretty bare of any sign of life. I place Zach into his mattress on the floor as I take off his shoes, covering him with my blanket from when I was about 2.

Once I'm sure Zach is comfortable I edge back down the stairs to my own room. I flop onto the mattress and instantly fall asleep as my head touches the pillow.

"Viola" I hear my fathers words slur. My eyes shoot open viciously as I see my deadbeat father towering over me. I look to the clock on the left of me. He couldn't even give me 10 minutes. "Where is it?"

"I only made $50 today dad" I lie, rummaging in my pocket for the cash. I've already separated the bills into 2 piles of $50, burying the rest deep in Zach's book bag. I hand it over to my douchebag dad. He counts it, gripping it tightly.